Two mass graves have been uncovered in Gaza, including one at the al-Shifa Medical Complex and another in the northern Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian groups. The discovery has intensified calls from Gaza authorities and local organizations for international intervention and accountability.
The mass grave at al-Shifa, Gaza's largest medical facility, was found in a courtyard on April 15. The Gaza Health Ministry and the Civil Defense Forces reported recovering the bodies of nine individuals from this site, some identified by family members. However, search operations were temporarily suspended due to Israeli military aircraft flying over the area. The second grave, located in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, reportedly contains the remains of 20 members of the al-Assaf family, victims of an Israeli military offensive in the region several months ago.
Hamas, which governs Gaza, condemned the discoveries as evidence of what it calls ongoing atrocities by Israeli forces, describing the acts as violations of international law and labeling them as war crimes and genocidal actions. The group accused the international community of maintaining a "shameful" silence, urging institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to hold Israeli leaders accountable. Hamas also accused Israeli military forces of conducting a "second invasion" of the al-Shifa hospital in mid-March, involving hundreds of troops, tanks, and aerial drones, which it says resulted in numerous civilian casualties, the destruction of hospital infrastructure, and summary executions witnessed by survivors.
The Gaza Ministry of Health has appealed for the establishment of field hospitals in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip, citing the collapse of the local health system. Many hospitals, including al-Shifa, have been rendered non-operational due to damage sustained during the conflict. The International Rescue Committee has also highlighted the severe impact on healthcare, noting that no hospitals in Gaza are currently fully functioning. Its staff report outbreaks of diseases previously under control, with children and malnourished patients particularly vulnerable. Many patients reportedly arrive at medical facilities either deceased or too ill for effective treatment.
The Israeli military, when approached with requests for comment, has not publicly addressed the specific allegations regarding the mass graves or the reported executions inside the hospital complex. Meanwhile, Israel maintains that its military operations target militant groups and infrastructure, aiming to stop rocket fire and attacks targeting Israeli civilians.
The situation has further deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with civilian casualties continuing and essential services increasingly compromised. International calls for a ceasefire and renewed diplomatic efforts to address the conflict's human toll have intensified in light of these recent developments.